Water-cooling unit control method, water-cooling unit, and energy storage system

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide a water-cooling unit control method, a water-cooling unit, and an energy storage system. The method comprises: on the basis of an acquired first fault signal, determining a fault duration, the first fault signal indicating that a power supply module of a water-cooling unit operates abnormally; and when the fault duration is greater than or equal to a specified duration, controlling the water-cooling unit to shut down, and outputting a target fault signal to a control unit of an energy storage system, the target fault signal indicating that a fault has occurred in the water-cooling unit.

Description

Water-cooled unit control methods, water-cooled units and energy storage systems

[0001] Cross-reference of related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202510076205.6, filed on January 17, 2025, entitled “Water-cooled unit control method, water-cooled unit and energy storage system”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This application relates to the field of energy storage system control technology, and in particular to a water-cooled unit control method, a water-cooled unit, and an energy storage system. Background Technology

[0004] Energy storage systems may suffer performance degradation if used in low or high temperature environments, making the role of water-cooled units crucial. If a water-cooled unit malfunctions, the energy storage system typically needs to be shut down until the water-cooled unit is repaired to ensure its safety.

[0005] Currently, water-cooled chiller units typically report faults when they malfunction. However, in actual operation, malfunctions in water-cooled chiller units may be caused by short-term AC power outages. Once power is restored, the unit will operate normally, meaning that the water-cooled chiller unit has not actually malfunctioned.

[0006] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a control method to reduce false alarms of water-cooled unit malfunctions. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This application provides a water-cooled unit control method, a water-cooled unit, and an energy storage system, which can reduce the risk of false alarms from water-cooled unit faults affecting the normal operation of the energy storage system.

[0008] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a water-cooled unit control method, the method comprising:

[0009] Based on the acquired first fault signal, the fault duration is determined. The first fault signal indicates that the power supply module of the water-cooled unit is malfunctioning.

[0010] If the fault duration is greater than or equal to the specified duration, the water chiller unit is shut down and a target fault signal is output to the control unit of the energy storage system. The target fault signal indicates that the water chiller unit has failed.

[0011] In this embodiment, by setting a specified duration for fault detection of the water-cooled unit, the target fault signal will only be output to the control unit of the energy storage system if the fault duration is greater than or equal to the specified duration. This reduces the risk of false alarms caused by abnormal operation of the power supply module of the water-cooled unit due to a short-term AC power outage of the energy storage system, which could affect the normal operation of the energy storage system.

[0012] In some embodiments, when the fault duration is greater than or equal to a specified duration, the water-cooled unit is controlled to shut down, and a target fault signal is output to the control unit of the energy storage system, including:

[0013] If the fault duration is greater than or equal to the specified duration and the power supply is normal, the water-cooled unit is controlled to shut down and the target fault signal is output to the control unit of the energy storage system.

[0014] In this embodiment, the target fault signal will only be output to the control unit of the energy storage system when the fault duration is greater than or equal to the specified duration and the power supply is normal. This avoids the energy storage system reporting a fault when it is normally powered off, and enables the water-cooled unit and the energy storage system to operate normally after the power supply is restored.

[0015] In some embodiments, after determining the fault duration based on the acquired first fault signal, the method further includes:

[0016] If the fault duration is less than the specified duration and the power supply is normal, control the water-cooled unit to operate normally.

[0017] In this embodiment, if the fault duration is less than the specified duration and the power supply is normal, it can be considered as being caused by a short-term AC power outage. In this case, the fault is not reported, and the water-cooled unit and energy storage system can resume normal operation after the power supply is restored.

[0018] In some embodiments, before determining the fault duration based on the acquired first fault signal, the method further includes:

[0019] The first fault signal uploaded by the power supply module is obtained. The first fault signal is the signal uploaded by the power supply module when the output voltage is less than the voltage threshold. The voltage threshold indicates the critical value of the output voltage when the power supply module is malfunctioning.

[0020] In this embodiment, the power supply module can generate a first fault signal and upload it to the controller when it malfunctions, so that the controller can detect the duration of the power supply module's malfunction.

[0021] In some embodiments, before determining the fault duration based on the acquired first fault signal, the method further includes:

[0022] Upon receiving the second fault signal, the output voltage of the power supply module is detected. The second fault signal indicates that there is a functional fault in the water-cooled unit.

[0023] When the output voltage of the power supply module is less than the voltage threshold, a first fault signal is acquired, wherein the voltage threshold indicates the critical value of the output voltage of the power supply module that indicates abnormal operation.

[0024] In this embodiment, when a functional failure occurs in the water-cooled unit, it can be determined whether it is caused by an abnormal operation of the power supply module. If it is caused by the power supply module, the target fault signal will be output to the control unit of the energy storage system only if the fault duration is greater than or equal to the specified duration. This reduces the risk of false alarms caused by the abnormal operation of the power supply module of the water-cooled unit due to a short-term AC power outage of the energy storage system, which could affect the normal operation of the energy storage system.

[0025] In some embodiments, before detecting the output voltage of the power supply module upon receiving a second fault signal, the method further includes:

[0026] In the event of a functional failure in the water-cooled unit, a second fault signal is acquired;

[0027] Among them, functional failures include at least one of heating failure, cooling failure, hibernation failure, and self-circulation failure.

[0028] In this embodiment, when at least one of the following functional failures occurs—heating failure, cooling failure, hibernation failure, and self-circulation failure—a second fault signal can be obtained to drive the controller to detect the operation of the power supply module.

[0029] In some embodiments, the functional failure includes a heating failure; in the event of a functional failure in the water-cooled unit, acquiring a second fault signal includes:

[0030] When the water chiller is in heating mode, if the current of the water chiller is less than the first current threshold and the water temperature of the water chiller remains less than the first temperature threshold for a first preset time period, a second fault signal is obtained.

[0031] The first current threshold indicates the critical current value at which the load is abnormally operating in the heating mode, and the first temperature threshold is the desired temperature value corresponding to the heating mode.

[0032] In this embodiment, when the water-cooled unit is heating, the presence of a heating fault can be detected based on the current and water temperature. If a heating fault is present, a second fault signal can be obtained.

[0033] In some embodiments, the functional failure includes a refrigeration failure; in the event of a functional failure in the water-cooled unit, acquiring a second fault signal includes:

[0034] When the water chiller is in cooling mode, if the current of the water chiller is less than the second current threshold and the water temperature of the water chiller is greater than the second temperature threshold for a second preset time period, a second fault signal is obtained.

[0035] The second current threshold indicates the critical current value at which the load is abnormally operating in the cooling mode, and the second temperature threshold is the desired temperature value corresponding to the cooling mode.

[0036] In this embodiment, when the water-cooled unit is cooling, it can detect whether there is a cooling fault based on the current and water temperature, and obtain a second fault signal when a cooling fault exists.

[0037] In some embodiments, the functional fault includes a dormant fault; in the event of a functional fault in the water-cooled unit, acquiring a second fault signal includes:

[0038] When the water chiller is in sleep mode, a second fault signal is acquired if the water chiller's sensor is open or disconnected.

[0039] In this embodiment, when the water-cooled unit is in sleep mode, the presence of a sleep fault can be detected by checking whether the sensors of the water-cooled unit are open or closed. If a sleep fault exists, a second fault signal can be obtained.

[0040] In some embodiments, the functional fault includes a self-circulation fault; in the event of a functional fault in the water-cooled unit, acquiring a second fault signal includes:

[0041] When the water chiller is in self-circulation mode, the current of the water chiller is less than the third current threshold, and the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet water of the water chiller exceeds the standard range of water pressure difference corresponding to the self-circulation mode for a third preset time period, a second fault signal is obtained.

[0042] The third current threshold indicates the critical current value at which the load malfunctions in the self-circulating mode.

[0043] In this embodiment, when the water-cooled unit is in self-circulation, the presence of a self-circulation fault can be detected based on the current and the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet water. If a self-circulation fault exists, a second fault signal can be obtained.

[0044] In some embodiments, after detecting the output voltage of the power supply module upon receiving a second fault signal, the method further includes:

[0045] If the output voltage of the power supply module is greater than or equal to the voltage threshold, the water-cooled unit is controlled to shut down, and a target fault signal is output to the control unit of the energy storage system.

[0046] In this embodiment, if a second fault signal is obtained and the power supply module is working normally, it can be considered that the functional fault is not affected by the power supply module, that is, the short-term AC power outage is also ruled out. At this time, it may be that the load performing the corresponding function of the water-cooled unit has failed. The target fault signal can be output to the control unit of the energy storage system so that timely maintenance can be carried out.

[0047] In some embodiments, the specified duration is greater than or equal to the duration of continuous discharge of the drive board of the water chiller after the water chiller is powered off.

[0048] In this embodiment, the specified duration can be set based on the continuous discharge duration of the water chiller's drive board after the water chiller is powered off, which improves the reliability and rationality of the specified duration.

[0049] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a water-cooled unit, comprising:

[0050] A filter, the input of which is connected to the power supply;

[0051] The driver board has its input terminal connected to the output terminal of the filter.

[0052] The power supply module has its input terminal connected to the output terminal of the driver board.

[0053] Low-voltage loads are connected to the output of the power supply module.

[0054] The heater is connected to the output of the filter.

[0055] The compressor is connected to the output end of the drive board;

[0056] The controller, connected to the output of the drive board and the output of the power supply module, is used to execute the water-cooled unit control method as described in the first aspect.

[0057] In this embodiment, based on the characteristic that the drive board can continue to discharge for a period of time after power failure, a specified duration for fault detection of the water-cooled unit is set. Only when the fault duration is greater than or equal to the specified duration will the target fault signal be output to the control unit of the energy storage system. This reduces the risk of false alarms caused by abnormal operation of the power supply module of the water-cooled unit due to short-term AC power failure of the energy storage system, which may affect the normal operation of the energy storage system.

[0058] In some embodiments, the controller is communicatively connected to the power supply module and is used to receive a first fault signal uploaded by the power supply module, the first fault signal indicating that the power supply module of the water-cooled unit is malfunctioning.

[0059] In this embodiment, the power supply module can generate a first fault signal and upload it to the controller when it malfunctions, so that the controller can detect the duration of the power supply module's malfunction.

[0060] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide an energy storage system, the system comprising:

[0061] Water-cooled unit, the water-cooled unit is as described in the second aspect;

[0062] The control unit communicates with the controller of the water-cooled unit.

[0063] The container electrical cabinet includes batteries and a water-cooled unit for battery temperature management. The container electrical cabinet is connected to a control unit, which is used to control the container electrical cabinet to stop or power on.

[0064] In this embodiment, by setting a specified duration for fault detection of the water-cooled unit, the target fault signal will only be output to the control unit of the energy storage system if the fault duration is greater than or equal to the specified duration. This reduces the risk of false alarms caused by abnormal operation of the power supply module of the water-cooled unit due to a short-term AC power outage of the energy storage system, which could affect the normal operation of the energy storage system.

[0065] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of this application. In order to better understand the technical means of this application and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, and to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of this application more obvious and understandable, the following are specific embodiments of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0066] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments of this application will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the drawings without creative effort.

[0067] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the energy storage system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0068] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the water-cooled unit provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0069] Figure 3 is one of the schematic diagrams of the water-cooled unit control method provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0070] Figure 4 is a second schematic diagram of the water-cooled unit control method provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0071] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the third water-cooled unit control method provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0072] Figure 6 is a fourth schematic diagram of the water-cooled unit control method provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0073] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a specific scenario embodiment of the water-cooled unit control method provided in this application.

[0074] Reference numerals: 110, water-cooled unit; 120, control unit; 130, container electrical cabinet; 111, filter; 112, drive board; 113, power supply module; 114, low-voltage load; 115, heater; 116, compressor; 117, controller.

[0075] The accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale. Detailed Implementation

[0076] The embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The detailed description of the following embodiments and the accompanying drawings are used to illustrate the principles of this application by way of example, but should not be used to limit the scope of this application, that is, this application is not limited to the described embodiments.

[0077] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more; the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships, are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on this application. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. "Vertical" is not vertical in the strict sense, but within the allowable tolerance range. "Parallel" is not parallel in the strict sense, but within the allowable tolerance range.

[0078] In this application, the reference to "embodiment" means that a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a mutually exclusive, independent, or alternative embodiment. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described in this application can be combined with other embodiments.

[0079] Unless otherwise specified, all embodiments and optional embodiments of this application can be combined to form new technical solutions.

[0080] Unless otherwise specified, all technical features and optional technical features of this application may be combined to form new technical solutions.

[0081] Unless otherwise specified, all steps of this application may be performed sequentially or randomly, preferably sequentially. For example, the method includes steps (a) and (b), indicating that the method may include steps (a) and (b) performed sequentially, or it may include steps (b) and (a) performed sequentially. For example, the mention that the method may also include step (c) indicates that step (c) may be added to the method in any order; for example, the method may include steps (a), (b), and (c), or it may include steps (a), (c), and (b), or it may include steps (c), (a), and (b), etc.

[0082] This application provides a water-cooled unit control method, a water-cooled unit, and an energy storage system to solve the aforementioned technical problems. The energy storage system provided in this application embodiment is described below.

[0083] Referring to Figure 1, this embodiment of the application provides an energy storage system, which may include a water-cooled chiller 110, a control unit 120, and a containerized electrical cabinet 130. Both the water-cooled chiller 110 and the containerized electrical cabinet 130 are communicatively connected to the control unit 120. For example, the water-cooled chiller 110 may also include a controller, which can communicate with the control unit 120, allowing the control unit 120 to perform operations related to adjusting battery temperature. It is understood that the control unit 120 of the energy storage system can be a Battery Management System (BMS) or an overall control module within the energy storage system, managing both the battery and components such as the water-cooled chiller.

[0084] The container electrical cabinet 130 may include multiple batteries, and the water-cooled unit 110 may also be connected to the container electrical cabinet 130 via pipes to perform temperature management for heating or cooling the batteries in the container electrical cabinet 130.

[0085] Understandably, during the operation of the energy storage system, the container electrical cabinet 130 can supply power to the water-cooled chiller unit 110, enabling the unit to operate. When the water-cooled chiller unit 110 malfunctions, it will upload a target fault signal to the control unit 120 of the energy storage system. The control unit 120 will then control the container electrical cabinet 130 to shut down based on this signal, meaning the energy storage system will stop operating at this point. The water-cooled chiller unit 110 needs to be inspected and repaired, and operation will only resume after the fault has been confirmed and resolved. To ensure the normal operation of the energy storage system, the accuracy of the fault reporting by the water-cooled chiller unit 110 is extremely important.

[0086] Based on this, referring to Figure 2, this application embodiment also provides a water-cooled unit 110, which may include:

[0087] Filter 111, the input terminal of filter 111 is used to connect to the power supply;

[0088] The input terminal of the driver board 112 is connected to the output terminal of the filter 111.

[0089] Power supply module 113, the input terminal of power supply module 113 is connected to the output terminal of driver board 112;

[0090] Low-voltage load 114 is connected to the output terminal of power supply module 113;

[0091] Heater 115 is connected to the output terminal of filter 111;

[0092] Compressor 116 is connected to the output end of drive board 112;

[0093] The controller 117 is connected to the output terminal of the driver board 112 and the output terminal of the power supply module 113.

[0094] In this embodiment, the power supply can be the aforementioned container electrical cabinet 130, which can be powered by AC 380V, passing through filter 111. Filter 111 can be a power filter, which is a bidirectional filtering network. On the one hand, it can prevent harmonics in the power grid from entering the electrical components of the water-cooled unit 110, avoiding affecting the normal operation of the water-cooled unit 110. On the other hand, the water-cooled unit 110 generates high-frequency harmonics during operation, which can be injected into the power grid, thereby affecting the normal operation of other electrical components. This power filter can also prevent the harmonics generated by the water-cooled unit 110 from affecting the electrical components around the water-cooled unit 110.

[0095] The filtered AC power can power heater 115. The filtered AC power can also pass through drive board 112, where the high-voltage AC power is rectified and inverted into high-voltage DC 540V DC power. This high-voltage DC 540V DC power can then be converted back to AC power to compressor 116.

[0096] The high-voltage DC 540V direct current can also be converted into low-voltage DC 26V direct current through the power supply module 113, directly powering low-voltage loads 114 such as water pumps, fans, and heating belts. In some examples, the power supply module 113 of the water-cooled unit 110 can be a DC module.

[0097] The drive board 112 can also supply power to the controller 117. Understandably, because the drive board 112 contains capacitors, inductors, and other components, it will remain in a discharge state for a short period after the water-cooled unit 110 is powered off; this period is typically 3-5 seconds. During this time, the supply voltage from the drive board 112 to the power supply module 113 decreases, leading to a decrease in the output voltage of the power supply module 113. This indicates an abnormal operation of the power supply module 113, and the controller 117 can detect this abnormality by acquiring a first fault signal indicating the abnormal operation of the power supply module 113.

[0098] The controller 117 can also monitor the operating status of the power supply module 113. For example, the controller 117 can directly obtain the output voltage of the power supply module 113 and determine the operating status of the power supply module 113 based on the output voltage.

[0099] In some embodiments, the controller 117 may be communicatively connected to the power supply module 113 to receive a first fault signal uploaded by the power supply module 113, the first fault signal indicating that the power supply module 113 of the water-cooled unit 110 is malfunctioning.

[0100] In this embodiment, the controller 117 can monitor the operating status of the power supply module 113 by directly receiving the first fault signal generated and uploaded to the controller 117 when the power supply module 113 malfunctions. This allows the controller 117 to detect the duration of the malfunction of the power supply module 113 based on the received first fault signal.

[0101] Simultaneously, the controller 117 can communicate with the drive board 112 and the control unit 120 of the energy storage system. The operating status and fault status of the water-cooled unit 110 are obtained through communication between the controller 117 and the control unit 120 of the energy storage system.

[0102] To ensure the normal operation of the energy storage system, the fault reporting logic of controller 117 needs to reduce the risk of false fault reports.

[0103] Based on this, please refer to Figure 3. An embodiment of this application provides a water-cooled unit control method, which may include:

[0104] Step 301: Based on the acquired first fault signal, determine the fault duration. The first fault signal indicates that the power supply module of the water-cooled unit is malfunctioning.

[0105] In step 301, a first fault signal can be obtained when the power supply module of the water-cooled unit malfunctions.

[0106] In some embodiments, the controller of the water-cooled unit can monitor the output voltage of the power supply module. When the output voltage is low, it can be considered that the power supply module is malfunctioning, and a first fault signal can be generated.

[0107] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG4, before determining the fault duration based on the acquired first fault signal, the method may further include:

[0108] Step 401: Obtain the first fault signal uploaded by the power supply module. The first fault signal is the signal uploaded by the power supply module when the output voltage is less than the voltage threshold. The voltage threshold indicates the critical value of the output voltage when the power supply module is malfunctioning.

[0109] For example, the power supply module can communicate with the controller. If the output voltage of the power supply module is lower than a voltage threshold, the power supply module can generate a first fault signal and upload it to the controller. The voltage threshold is determined based on the output voltage of the power supply module during normal operation and serves as a critical output voltage value to indicate abnormal operation of the power supply module. For example, the voltage threshold can be equal to or slightly lower than the output voltage of the power supply module during normal operation.

[0110] In this embodiment, the power supply module can generate a first fault signal and upload it to the controller when it malfunctions, so that the controller can detect the duration of the power supply module's malfunction.

[0111] The duration of the fault can be determined based on the acquired first fault signal. For example, after acquiring the first fault signal, the controller can start counting the duration of the acquired first fault signal to obtain the duration of the fault in which the power supply module is malfunctioning.

[0112] Step 302: If the fault duration is greater than or equal to the specified duration, control the water chiller unit to shut down and output the target fault signal to the control unit of the energy storage system. The target fault signal indicates that the water chiller unit has failed.

[0113] In step 302, it is understood that the drive board of the water-cooled unit can continue to discharge for a period of time when the power is off. Based on this, a specified duration can be set to filter out situations where the power supply module malfunctions due to a power outage. The specified duration can be set based on empirical values ​​combined with actual conditions, or it can be determined based on the continuous discharge duration of the drive board after power failure.

[0114] In some embodiments, the specified duration can be greater than or equal to the continuous discharge duration of the water-cooled unit's drive board after the water-cooled unit is powered off. Thus, the specified duration can be set based on the continuous discharge duration of the water-cooled unit's drive board after the water-cooled unit is powered off, improving the reliability and rationality of the specified duration.

[0115] For example, if the fault duration is greater than or equal to the specified duration, it can be assumed that the drive board continuously supplies power to the power supply module. Therefore, the drive board is always powered on, meaning that the water-cooled unit is not powered off. In this case, the abnormal operation of the power supply module is not caused by the power failure of the water-cooled unit. It can be assumed that the power supply module is faulty. The controller can control the water-cooled unit to stop and output the target fault signal to the control unit of the energy storage system.

[0116] In this embodiment, by setting a specified duration for fault detection of the water-cooled unit, the target fault signal will only be output to the control unit of the energy storage system if the fault duration is greater than or equal to the specified duration. This reduces the risk of false alarms caused by abnormal operation of the power supply module of the water-cooled unit due to a short-term AC power outage of the energy storage system, which could affect the normal operation of the energy storage system.

[0117] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG5, controlling the water-cooled unit to shut down and outputting a target fault signal to the control unit of the energy storage system when the fault duration is greater than or equal to a specified duration may include:

[0118] Step 501: If the fault duration is greater than or equal to the specified duration and the power supply is normal, control the water-cooled unit to shut down and output the target fault signal to the control unit of the energy storage system.

[0119] In this embodiment, the drive board can also supply power to the controller. At this time, if the water-cooled unit loses power, the drive board will also lose power after discharging for a period of time, and will no longer be able to supply power to the controller. After the controller loses power, it will also be unable to report the fault.

[0120] Based on this, if the fault duration is greater than or equal to the specified duration and the power supply is normal, it can be assumed that the drive board continuously supplies power to the power supply module and the controller, ensuring that the drive board is always powered on. This further eliminates the possibility of a power outage in the water-cooled unit. In this case, the power supply module is more likely to be faulty, and the controller can control the water-cooled unit to stop and output the target fault signal to the control unit of the energy storage system.

[0121] For example, in the case of a normal long-term power outage of the water-cooled unit, after the specified time has elapsed, the drive board will also lose power, the controller will be without power, and will not report the fault to the control unit of the energy storage system.

[0122] In this embodiment, the target fault signal will only be output to the control unit of the energy storage system when the fault duration is greater than or equal to the specified duration and the power supply is normal. This avoids reporting faults when the energy storage system is normally powered off, and enables the water-cooled unit and the energy storage system to operate normally after the power supply is restored, further reducing the risk of false fault reports.

[0123] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG6, after determining the fault duration based on the acquired first fault signal, the method may further include:

[0124] Step 601: If the fault duration is less than the specified duration and the power supply is normal, control the water-cooled unit to operate normally.

[0125] In this embodiment, if the fault duration is less than the specified duration and the drive board continues to supply power to the controller, it can be considered that the power supply module has resumed normal operation within the specified duration. It can be considered that the abnormal operation of the power supply module may be caused by a short-term AC power outage. At this time, the controller can control the water-cooled unit to operate normally after the power supply is normal.

[0126] In this embodiment, if the fault duration is less than the specified duration and the power supply is normal, it can be considered as being caused by a short-term AC power outage. In this case, the fault is not reported, and the water-cooled unit and energy storage system can resume normal operation after the power supply is restored.

[0127] In some embodiments, before determining the fault duration based on the acquired first fault signal, the method may further include:

[0128] Upon receiving the second fault signal, the output voltage of the power supply module is detected. The second fault signal indicates that there is a functional fault in the water-cooled unit.

[0129] When the output voltage of the power supply module is less than the voltage threshold, a first fault signal is acquired, wherein the voltage threshold indicates the critical value of the output voltage of the power supply module that indicates abnormal operation.

[0130] In this embodiment, when the energy storage system starts up, the control unit of the energy storage system and the controller of the water-cooled unit can be in an initial state. The water-cooled unit performs a self-test and sends its status to the control unit of the energy storage system. The control unit of the energy storage system determines whether it has received a target fault signal from the water-cooled unit based on the received status. If a target fault signal is received, it reports the target fault signal to the water-cooled unit and controls the container electrical cabinet to shut down. If no target fault signal is received, it controls the container electrical cabinet to power on. The container electrical cabinet judges the instructions of the water-cooled unit according to its internal needs, so that the water-cooled unit performs the corresponding functions. The functions of the water-cooled unit may include heating, cooling, self-circulation, and hibernation.

[0131] The controller can detect whether there is a functional fault when the water-cooled unit is performing its corresponding function.

[0132] In some embodiments, a second fault signal can be acquired in the event of a functional failure in the water-cooled unit; wherein the second fault signal can indicate that a functional failure exists in the water-cooled unit; the functional failure may include at least one of heating failure, cooling failure, hibernation failure, and self-circulation failure.

[0133] If a second fault signal is detected, it indicates a functional fault in the water-cooled unit. It can then be determined whether the fault is caused by an abnormal operation of the power supply module. In this case, the output voltage of the power supply module can be checked.

[0134] If the output voltage of the power supply module is less than the voltage threshold, it can be considered that the power supply module is malfunctioning. The first fault signal can then be obtained, and the fault duration can be determined based on the first fault signal. The fault duration can be used to determine whether the malfunction of the power supply module is caused by a fault or by a power outage of the water-cooled unit.

[0135] In this embodiment, when a functional failure occurs in the water-cooled unit, it can be determined whether it is caused by an abnormal operation of the power supply module. If it is caused by the power supply module, the target fault signal will be output to the control unit of the energy storage system only if the fault duration is greater than or equal to the specified duration. This reduces the risk of false alarms caused by the abnormal operation of the power supply module of the water-cooled unit due to a short-term AC power outage of the energy storage system, which could affect the normal operation of the energy storage system.

[0136] In some embodiments, after detecting the output voltage of the power supply module upon receiving a second fault signal, the method may further include:

[0137] If the output voltage of the power supply module is greater than or equal to the voltage threshold, the water-cooled unit is controlled to shut down, and a target fault signal is output to the control unit of the energy storage system.

[0138] In this embodiment, if the output voltage of the power supply module is greater than or equal to the voltage threshold, the power supply module is considered to be working normally, and the functional failure is not caused by the power supply module. The functional failure could be caused by a load malfunction in the water-cooled unit, such as a heater malfunction leading to heating failure, or a compressor malfunction leading to cooling failure, etc.

[0139] At this time, the controller can shut down the water-cooled unit and output the target fault signal to the control unit of the energy storage system, so that the control unit of the energy storage system can shut down the container electrical cabinet of the energy storage system and perform maintenance on the water-cooled unit. After the fault is repaired, it can resume normal operation.

[0140] In this embodiment, if a second fault signal is obtained and the power supply module is working normally, it can be considered that the functional fault is not affected by the power supply module, that is, the short-term AC power outage is also ruled out. At this time, it may be that the load performing the corresponding function of the water-cooled unit has failed. The target fault signal can be output to the control unit of the energy storage system so that timely maintenance can be carried out.

[0141] To better understand the solutions of the embodiments of this application, as shown in Figure 7, taking the control unit of the energy storage system as a BMS and the power supply module of the water-cooled unit as a DC module as an example, a specific scenario embodiment of the water-cooled unit control method may include:

[0142] Step 701: The controller controls the water-cooled unit to perform a self-test and sends the status to the BMS;

[0143] Step 702: The BMS determines whether it has received a target fault signal from the water-cooled unit; if yes, proceed to step 703; otherwise, proceed to step 704.

[0144] Step 703: The BMS reports the target fault signal and controls the container electrical cabinet to stop.

[0145] Step 704: Power on the BMS control container electrical cabinet;

[0146] Step 705: The controller starts the heating mode;

[0147] Step 706: The controller starts the cooling mode;

[0148] Step 707: The controller starts sleep mode;

[0149] Step 708: The controller starts the self-loop mode;

[0150] Step 709: The controller determines whether there is a functional fault; if so, proceed to step 710; otherwise, the process ends.

[0151] Step 710: The controller determines whether the DC module is malfunctioning; if so, proceed to step 711; otherwise, proceed to step 701. At this time, the status includes the target fault signal.

[0152] Step 711: The controller determines whether the abnormal operation duration of the DC module is greater than or equal to the specified duration; if not, the process ends; if so, step 701 is executed, at which point the status includes the target fault signal.

[0153] In some embodiments, the functional failure includes a heating failure; in the event of a functional failure in the water-cooled unit, acquiring a second fault signal may include:

[0154] When the water chiller is in heating mode, if the current of the water chiller is less than the first current threshold and the water temperature of the water chiller remains less than the first temperature threshold for a first preset time period, a second fault signal is obtained.

[0155] The first current threshold indicates the critical current value at which the load is abnormally operating in the heating mode, and the first temperature threshold is the desired temperature value corresponding to the heating mode.

[0156] In this embodiment, the first current threshold can be a critical current value that indicates an abnormal operation of the load (such as a heater) corresponding to the heating mode. For example, the first current threshold can be equal to the current value when the heater is operating normally, or it can be slightly less than the current value when the heater is operating normally.

[0157] The first preset time period can be set according to actual needs, for example, the first preset time period can be 10 to 30 minutes.

[0158] The first temperature threshold can be the desired temperature value corresponding to the heating mode, that is, the required water temperature matched by the heating mode.

[0159] Taking a first current threshold of aA, a first temperature threshold of X℃, and a first preset time period of 30min as an example, if the current of the water-cooled unit is <aA and the water temperature is <X℃ for 30 minutes, it can be said that the water-cooled unit has not achieved the expected effect of the heating mode, and it can be considered that the water-cooled unit has a heating fault. At this time, the controller can obtain the second fault signal.

[0160] In this embodiment, when the water-cooled unit is heating, the presence of a heating fault can be detected based on the current and water temperature. If a heating fault is present, a second fault signal can be obtained.

[0161] In some embodiments, the functional failure includes a refrigeration failure; in the event of a functional failure in the water-cooled unit, acquiring a second fault signal may include:

[0162] When the water chiller is in cooling mode, if the current of the water chiller is less than the second current threshold and the water temperature of the water chiller is greater than the second temperature threshold for a second preset time period, a second fault signal is obtained.

[0163] The second current threshold indicates the critical current value at which the load is abnormally operating in the cooling mode, and the second temperature threshold is the desired temperature value corresponding to the cooling mode.

[0164] In this embodiment, the second current threshold can be a critical current value that indicates an abnormal operation of the load (such as a compressor) corresponding to the cooling mode. For example, the second current threshold can be equal to the current value when the compressor is operating normally, or it can be slightly less than the current value when the compressor is operating normally.

[0165] The second preset time period can be set according to actual needs, for example, the second preset time period can be 10 to 30 minutes.

[0166] The second temperature threshold can be the desired temperature value corresponding to the cooling mode, that is, the required water temperature matched by the cooling mode.

[0167] Taking a second current threshold of bA, a second temperature threshold of Y℃, and a second preset time period of 30 minutes as an example, if the current of the water-cooled unit is <bA and the water temperature is <Y℃ after 30 minutes of continuous detection, it can be said that the water-cooled unit has not achieved the expected effect of the cooling mode, and it can be considered that the water-cooled unit has a cooling fault. At this time, the controller can obtain the second fault signal.

[0168] In this embodiment, when the water-cooled unit is cooling, it can detect whether there is a cooling fault based on the current and water temperature, and obtain a second fault signal when a cooling fault exists.

[0169] In some embodiments, the functional fault includes a dormant fault; in the event of a functional fault in the water-cooled unit, acquiring a second fault signal may include:

[0170] When the water chiller is in sleep mode, a second fault signal is acquired if the water chiller's sensor is open or disconnected.

[0171] In this embodiment, if the water-cooled unit starts the hibernation mode, it can detect whether various sensors in the water-cooled unit are open or open-circuited. If an open or open circuit is detected in a sensor, it can be considered that the water-cooled unit has a hibernation fault. At this time, the controller can obtain a second fault signal.

[0172] In this embodiment, when the water-cooled unit is in sleep mode, the presence of a sleep fault can be detected by checking whether the sensors of the water-cooled unit are open or closed. If a sleep fault exists, a second fault signal can be obtained.

[0173] In some embodiments, the functional fault includes a self-circulation fault; in the event of a functional fault in the water-cooled unit, acquiring a second fault signal may include:

[0174] When the water chiller is in self-circulation mode, the current of the water chiller is less than the third current threshold, and the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet water of the water chiller exceeds the standard range of water pressure difference corresponding to the self-circulation mode for a third preset time period, a second fault signal is obtained.

[0175] The third current threshold indicates the critical current value at which the load malfunctions in the self-circulating mode.

[0176] In this embodiment, the third current threshold can be a current critical value indicating an abnormal load operation corresponding to the self-circulating mode. For example, the third current threshold can be equal to the current value when the water pump is operating normally, or it can be slightly less than the current value when the water pump is operating normally.

[0177] The third preset time period can be set according to actual needs, for example, the third preset time period can be 10 to 30 minutes. The standard range of water pressure difference can be set according to actual needs.

[0178] Taking the third current threshold as cA, the standard range of water pressure difference as “m~n” kPa, and the second preset time period as 10min as an example, if the current of the water-cooled unit is < cA, and the water pressure difference between the inlet and outlet of the water-cooled unit is not within the set pressure difference range of “m~n” kPa for 10 consecutive minutes, it can be said that the water-cooled unit has not achieved the expected effect of the self-circulation mode, and it can be considered that the water-cooled unit has a self-circulation fault. At this time, the controller can obtain the second fault signal.

[0179] In this embodiment, when the water-cooled unit is in self-circulation, the presence of a self-circulation fault can be detected based on the current and the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet water. If a self-circulation fault exists, a second fault signal can be obtained.

[0180] The aspects of this disclosure have been described above with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and program products according to embodiments of this disclosure. It should be understood that each block in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by a computer program or instructions. These programs or instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine such that these instructions, executable via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, enable the implementation of the functions / actions specified in one or more blocks of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams. Such a processor can be, but is not limited to, a general-purpose processor, a special-purpose processor, a special application processor, or a field-programmable logic circuit. It is also understood that each block in the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, can also be implemented by special-purpose hardware performing the specified functions or actions, or can be implemented by a combination of special-purpose hardware and computer instructions.

[0181] Although this application has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, various modifications can be made thereto and components can be replaced with equivalents without departing from the scope of this application. In particular, the technical features mentioned in the various embodiments can be combined in any manner, provided there is no structural conflict. This application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A water-cooled unit control method, applied to an energy storage system, the method comprising: Based on the acquired first fault signal, the fault duration is determined. The first fault signal indicates that the power supply module of the water-cooled unit is malfunctioning. If the fault duration is greater than or equal to a specified duration, the water-cooled unit is controlled to shut down, and a target fault signal is output to the control unit of the energy storage system, the target fault signal indicating that the water-cooled unit has failed.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The step of controlling the water-cooled unit to shut down and outputting a target fault signal to the control unit of the energy storage system when the fault duration is greater than or equal to a specified duration includes: If the fault duration is greater than or equal to the specified duration and the power supply is normal, the water-cooled unit is controlled to shut down, and a target fault signal is output to the control unit of the energy storage system.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, After determining the fault duration based on the acquired first fault signal, the method further includes: If the fault duration is less than the specified duration and the power supply is normal, control the water-cooled unit to operate normally.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, Before determining the fault duration based on the acquired first fault signal, the method further includes: The first fault signal uploaded by the power supply module is obtained, wherein the first fault signal is a signal uploaded by the power supply module when the output voltage is less than a voltage threshold, and the voltage threshold indicates the critical value of the output voltage of the power supply module that is malfunctioning.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, Before determining the fault duration based on the acquired first fault signal, the method further includes: Upon receiving a second fault signal, the output voltage of the power supply module is detected. The second fault signal indicates that the water-cooled unit has a functional fault. When the output voltage of the power supply module is less than a voltage threshold, the first fault signal is acquired, wherein the voltage threshold indicates the critical value of the output voltage of the power supply module that is malfunctioning.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein, Before detecting the output voltage of the power supply module upon receiving the second fault signal, the method further includes: In the event of a functional failure in the water-cooled unit, the second fault signal is acquired; The functional faults include at least one of heating faults, cooling faults, hibernation faults, and self-circulation faults.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein, The functional fault includes a heating fault; in the event of a functional fault in the water-cooled unit, acquiring the second fault signal includes: When the water-cooled unit is in heating mode, and the current of the water-cooled unit is less than a first current threshold, and the water temperature of the water-cooled unit remains less than a first temperature threshold for a first preset time period, the second fault signal is acquired. Wherein, the first current threshold indicates the critical current value at which the load corresponding to the heating mode is abnormally operating, and the first temperature threshold is the desired temperature value corresponding to the heating mode.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein, The functional fault includes a refrigeration fault; in the event of a functional fault in the water-cooled unit, acquiring the second fault signal includes: When the water chiller is in cooling mode, the current of the water chiller is less than the second current threshold, and the water temperature of the water chiller is greater than the second temperature threshold for a second preset time period, the second fault signal is acquired. Wherein, the second current threshold indicates the critical current value at which the load corresponding to the cooling mode is abnormally operating, and the second temperature threshold is the desired temperature value corresponding to the cooling mode.

9. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein, The functional fault includes a dormancy fault; the step of acquiring the second fault signal when a functional fault exists in the water-cooled unit includes: When the water-cooled unit is in sleep mode, and the sensor of the water-cooled unit is open-circuited or disconnected, the second fault signal is acquired.

10. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein, The functional fault includes a self-circulation fault; the step of acquiring the second fault signal when a functional fault exists in the water-cooled unit includes: When the water chiller is in self-circulation mode, the current of the water chiller is less than the third current threshold, and the inlet and outlet water pressure difference of the water chiller exceeds the standard range of water pressure difference corresponding to the self-circulation mode for a third preset time period, the second fault signal is obtained. The third current threshold indicates the critical current value at which the load corresponding to the self-circulating mode malfunctions.

11. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein, After detecting the output voltage of the power supply module upon receiving a second fault signal, the method further includes: If the output voltage of the power supply module is greater than or equal to the voltage threshold, the water-cooled unit is controlled to shut down, and the target fault signal is output to the control unit of the energy storage system.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein, The specified duration is greater than or equal to the duration of continuous discharge of the drive board of the water-cooled unit after the water-cooled unit is powered off.

13. A water-cooled unit, comprising: A filter, the input of which is used to connect to a power supply; A driver board, the input terminal of which is connected to the output terminal of the filter; A power supply module, wherein the input terminal of the power supply module is connected to the output terminal of the driver board; A low-voltage load is connected to the output terminal of the power supply module; A heater is connected to the output terminal of the filter; The compressor is connected to the output end of the drive board; The controller is connected to the output terminal of the drive board and the output terminal of the power supply module, and is used to execute the water-cooled unit control method as described in any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. The water-cooled unit according to claim 13, wherein, The controller is communicatively connected to the power supply module and is used to receive a first fault signal uploaded by the power supply module, the first fault signal indicating that the power supply module of the water-cooled unit is malfunctioning.

15. An energy storage system, comprising: Water-cooled unit, wherein the water-cooled unit is the water-cooled unit as described in claim 13 or 14; The control unit is communicatively connected to the controller of the water-cooled unit. The container electrical cabinet includes a battery, and the water-cooled unit is used to manage the temperature of the battery. The container electrical cabinet is communicatively connected to the control unit, which is used to control the container electrical cabinet to stop or power on.

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